New vision for Broadway gets final thumbs up

An artist impression of the new plans for The Broadway Hotel in Morecambe.

Published:11:05Thursday 17 November 2016

Planning permission has been granted for a new flats development at the former Broadway Hotel.

A panel of Lancaster city councillors voted unanimously to approve the 50 apartment block.

The Broadway being demolished.

The scheme has been given approval on condition that developers MH Stainton sign a legal agreement agreeing to pay a sum of money towards affordable housing on the site.

The plans were approved at a Lancaster City Council planning committee meeting on Monday.

Bernard Vause, who lives close to the site, spoke at the meeting.

Mr Vause is one of a group of residents campaigning for a mini-roundabout at the Broadway junction and traffic calming measures on Dallam Avenue in Morecambe.

He told us afterwards that while he does not want to stop the development he is worried about how it might add to road safety worries near Morecambe Community High School.

“As local residents we have looked forward to it for a long time and the design is excellent,” said Mr Vause.

“But my concern is for road safety. It’s getting worse. If you put another 50 cars in there, the exit from the development is just 30m from the junction of Dallam Avenue and Broadway.

“Between 8.30am and 9am and 2.30pm and 3pm there is a real danger of an accident.

“I wanted the developers to in some way fund road safety improvements in the area.”

The proposal does include some minor improvements to the Marine Road East and Broadway junction.

Kerb realignments will help pedestrians crossing the Broadway junction by reducing the road width and vehicle speeds.

David Hall of DH Planning Solutions, agent for the applicant, spoke at Monday’s meeting in support of the plans.

There will be 40 two-bedroom, eight three-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments in the modern tower block.

A council report said plans for the white-rendered and glass building are of a “high quality design” in a “prominent gateway location”.

It also said the apartment block, which rises as high as eight storeys, will be “overbearing” to some nearby homes. But the report said this “would not significantly outweigh the benefits” of the scheme.

Developer Michael Stainton, who also developed apartments on the site of the former Elms Hotel, said he was 100 per cent committed to creating a new “iconic building” in place of the Broadway.